Mineral Sciences

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Scientists in the Department of Mineral Sciences seek to understand the evolution of the Earth and Solar System by studying samples from environments ranging from the mantle to mine drainages, from volcanic arcs to the asteroid belt. The department is home to world-class collections of rocks, minerals, meteorites, and gems, as well as the instruments our scientists use to study these specimens in detail.

**While the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History exhibition spaces are now open to the public, our collections remain closed to most staff and all researchers, and the museum’s COVID-19 loan moratorium remains in effect. Currently, there is no capacity to accommodate collections activities including visits, image requests, loans, and shipments. Do not send packages to Mineral Sciences staff at this time. While there is no current date set for when on-site collections activities will resume, we will update as soon as this changes.**

Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program seeks to document, understand, and disseminate information about global volcanic activity. Its weekly and monthly reports provide scientists with a record of ongoing eruptions they can use to guide research and hazard management related to volcanoes.

Volcano erupting with lava streaming down the side. A forest is at its foot and the eruption is reflected in a dark lake.

Using the Collections

Our collection of over 600,000 specimens is available for study by researchers worldwide. Find specimens and request a loan using the links below.

Access the Collections

Collections Overview

Samples Requests & Loan Policy

Reference Materials

Instrumentation

Electron microprobe

Scanning electron microscope

Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer

Research Support Facilities

Seminar Schedule

Spring 2020 seminar schedule
Date	Title	Speaker
Jan 8	Using Jack Hills zircons to decode the secular evolution of the early Earth	Michael Ackerson, Mineral Sciences
Jan 15	Implications of isotopic heterogeneity of short-lived systems for Earth formation, long-term evolution, and present processes	Richard J. Walker, University of Maryland
Jan 22	Interpreting Redox-Sensitive Minerals to Understand Soil Environmental Conditions	Martin Rabenhorst, University of Maryland
Jan 29	In situ x-ray diffraction studies of minerals under dynamic loading	Sally J. Tracy, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Feb 5
Feb 12
Feb 19	Heavy iron isotope composition of iron meteorites caused by core crystallization	Peng Ni, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Feb 26	Rocks from Space!	Wendy Bohon, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Mar 4	From millennia to minutes: Timing magmatic processes using mineral diffusion chronometry	Euan Mutch, University of Maryland
Mar 11	Postponed: Metamorphism and The Evolution of Plate Tectonics	Robert Holder, Johns Hopkins University
Mar 18	No seminar (LPSC)
Mar 25	Postponed	Giovanni Sosa, UNAM
Apr 1	Postponed	Michelle Muth, University of Oregon
Apr 8	No seminar
Apr 15	No seminar
Apr 22	To be announced	Joy Buongiorno, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Apr 29	To be announced	Andrew Steele, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
May 6	To be announced
May 13	To be announced	Tanya Harrison, Planet Labs DC
May 20	Symposium in honor of Carter Hearn
May 27	To be announced	Robert Hazen, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Jun 3	To be announced	Dina Bower, NASA
Jun 10	To be announced

Seminars are held on the fourth floor of the east wing of NMNH and run from 10 to 11 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Smithsonian personnel who are not members of the department can buzz in at the entrance to the department in the fourth floor elevator lobby prior to 10 a.m. Visitors without SI badges should call the department from the visitor services office, located at the 10th and Constitution Ave entrance to the museum, by dialing Phyllis McKenzie at x31808 or Ioan Lascu at x31815.

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